Hurricanes, typhoons and cyclones explained

What’s the difference between a hurricane, cyclone and typhoon?

Natural hazardsArticleApril 25, 2024

Hurricanes, tropical cyclones and typhoons are all destructive windstorms, but how do they differ from one another? Learn more.

Hurricanes, typhoons and tropical cyclones are essentially the same weather phenomenon. They are all large tropical storm systems that revolve around an area of low pressure and produce heavy rain and wind speeds exceeding 74 mph (119 kph).

The difference in their names is purely geographic. In the North Atlantic and Northeast Pacific oceans, the term ‘hurricane’ is used, whereas in the Northwest Pacific Ocean they are called ‘typhoons.’ The name ‘tropical cyclone’ – or sometimes ‘severe tropical cyclone’ or ‘severe cyclonic storm’ – is used in the South Pacific and Indian oceans.

Whats the difference between a hurricane, cyclone and typhoon

These storm systems are typically five to six miles (8-10 km) high and 300 to 500 miles (480-800 km) wide, although they can be far bigger. They typically move forward at speeds of 10-15 mph (16-24 kph) but can travel as fast as 40 mph (64 kph).

Despite having different names, they can all be incredibly destructive. How you prepare, respond and recover will determine your resilience to these powerful windstorms.

What are tropical disturbances, depressions and storms?

Hurricanes, typhoons and tropical cyclones all start out as a ‘tropical disturbance’ when water vapor from the warm ocean in the tropics or subtropics condenses to form clouds. This is when you first see the pattern of wind circulating around a center.

If sustained winds increase to 25 mph (40 kph), the storm is called a ‘tropical depression.’ When the wind speeds reach 39 mph (63 kph) it is classified a ‘tropical storm.’ Above 74 mph (119 kph), they are categorized as either a hurricane, typhoon or tropical cyclone.

But don’t just focus purely on wind speeds. While high winds can cause immense damage, these windstorms can trigger other weapons of destruction like storm surge, torrential rainfall and flooding that can be even more destructive and deadly than the wind.

A ‘superstorm,’ like Superstorm Sandy that struck New York in October 2012, is not a separate classification. Sandy was a hurricane but had slowed to a tropical cyclone when it hit the U.S. East Coast. The term ‘superstorm’ was dreamed up by the media, who also unofficially called it ‘Snowicane Sandy’ (as it was projected to drop snow) and ‘Frankenstorm’ (due to the proximity of Halloween).

Why are hurricanes and typhoons given names?

Windstorms like Hurricane Katrina in 2005 or Typhoon Haiyan in 2013 became household names, but why do they get named in the first place? “Hurricanes, typhoons and tropical cyclones are given short, easily remembered names to reduce confusion when two or more occur at the same time,” explains Amar Rahman, Global Head of Climate and Sustainability Solutions at Zurich Resilience Solutions.

“It makes it easier for meteorologists to identify and track them across the oceans. It also helps us at Zurich as it raises awareness and means our customers are more likely to follow our guidance when we contact them to warn of an approaching windstorm.”

When do hurricanes and typhoons occur?

The North Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, while the typhoon season in the Northwest Pacific runs from June through to October.

The tropical cyclone season in the South Pacific, Australia and the east coast of Africa runs from November to April, but in the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea they usually occur between April and June, and September to November. However, tropical storms can occur outside of these official seasons.

Do you get hurricanes in Europe?

Technically, you do not get hurricanes in Europe. The continent can, however, be hit with winds gusting over 74 mph (119 kph), equivalent to a category 1 hurricane, but these are classified as ‘extratropical cyclones’ or ‘European windstorms.’

“They form when areas of low atmospheric pressure move in from the North Atlantic,” explains Rahman. “They tend to curve northwards, so the UK, Ireland and northern European countries are most commonly hit, usually between October and March.”

Although their wind speeds rarely hit hurricane levels, European windstorms can still cause immense economic damage, ranking second only to North American hurricanes for insurance losses. For instance, storms Dudley and Eunice, which hit the UK in February 2022, caused estimated insured losses of up to USD 5 billion.

And finally, how do tornadoes differ from hurricanes?

A tornado is a totally different weather phenomenon. The only similarity is that tornadoes and hurricanes both contain strong rotating winds that can cause severe damage.

A tornado is a violently spiraling funnel cloud that extends from the base of a thunderstorm to the ground. Tornadoes require hot, humid air near the ground with a cool air mass above them. They also need strong wind velocity at higher altitudes, called ‘wind shear,’ to get them spinning.

Unlike hurricanes, which can be tracked days ahead of making landfall, tornadoes can appear suddenly, providing little or no advance warning. Tornadoes are short-lived, often lasting less than 15 minutes, whereas a hurricane can be active for many days. Tornadoes are also smaller. They are typically no more than half a mile (0.8 km) wide, while hurricanes can measure hundreds of miles wide. But tornadoes do trump hurricanes in terms of wind speed, sometimes reaching 300 mph (483 kph) compared to a maximum of about 200 mph (322 kph) for hurricanes. Tornadoes are also more frequent. The U.S. is hit by about 1,200 tornadoes a year, but only about 10 hurricanes.